The casualties follow what Russian officials described as the largest-scale Ukrainian attack of the year, which involved hundreds of drones targeting Moscow and critical infrastructure. Concurrently, Russian forces continued their relentless bombardment of Ukrainian cities, killing seven and injuring dozens more in strikes across multiple regions. The mutual bombardments underscore a new phase of the war, now well into its fourth year, as both sides attempt to degrade the other’s rear echelons. Russia currently controls approximately a fifth of Ukrainian territory following its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Belgorod Region Bears Brunt of Russia Ukraine Strikes
In the western Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, eight people died over the past day. Acting Regional Governor Alexandr Shuvaev reported that Ukrainian strikes burned a building and damaged a vehicle in the village of Koloskovo. An injured child went to the hospital, while two other individuals received medical treatment at the scene.
Further south, a woman died when a drone struck a residential home in the Astrakhan region. Regional Governor Igor Babushkin stated that the Ukrainian strike also targeted an industrial facility, though the infrastructure sustained no damage. These incidents follow a deadly Saturday night barrage that left five dead in the Rostov region and a woman dead after an attack on a civilian bus in Belgorod.
Ukraine Targets Russian Logistics and Capital
Kyiv has significantly increased the frequency and depth of its drone strikes inside Russia in recent weeks. On Saturday night, Ukraine launched approximately 822 drones toward Russia, with 600 directed at the capital. Moscow’s regional governor reported the Moscow drone attack as one of the most massive in recent memory, resulting in the death of an 83-year-old man.
The strikes also targeted a warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer. Since July, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly hit the company’s facilities. Ukraine’s defense ministry stated that the latest assault disabled seven of the ten largest Wildberries logistics centers. Major General Vadym Skibitski, deputy chief of Ukraine’s intelligence service, defended the tactic, accusing Russia of utilizing civilian networks to supply its military.
“It’s one of the elements of the logistics system of the Russian Federation to wage the war, including through Wildberries – some military equipment, components and other elements,” Vadym Skibitski stated. He maintained that Ukraine does not deliberately target civilians, asserting that some casualties in Russia result from debris caused by air defense systems intercepting incoming projectiles. Skibitski added that these drone strikes actively influence public opinion in Russia, raising concerns about the country’s capability to prevent attacks and protect key areas.
Russian Bombardment Devastates Ukrainian Cities
Russian forces have simultaneously intensified missile and drone attacks across Ukraine. The state emergencies service reported that two people died in Russian strikes on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in the eastern Donetsk region. In Sloviansk, 54 trading pavilions at a local market caught fire, crippling local commerce. Two additional casualties occurred in the Sumy region following an overnight drone attack, where regional head Oleh Hryhorov confirmed the deaths of a man and a woman.
On Saturday night, Russian attacks killed at least seven people and injured more than 39 across the country. A guided aerial bomb struck a private residence in the Zaporizhzhia region, killing a man and a woman. In Kyiv, Russian strikes hit a book market in the Pochayna district, leaving burnt books scattered across the ground. Moscow claimed the attacks in Kyiv targeted a FirePoint facility producing parts for Flamingo missiles and a factory manufacturing drone components.
The Black Sea port city of Odesa also came under fire, with a separate overnight attack damaging a civilian vessel and injuring four people. Ukrainian officials noted that Russia aims to deter foreign companies from trading with Ukraine by systematically targeting its ports and coastline.
What Happens Next
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that 13 regions came under attack last week, with Russia launching over 1,550 attack drones, nearly 1,560 guided aerial bombs, and 62 missiles. The Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz confirmed that Russia attacked its facilities 13 times in the past week alone, signaling a sustained campaign to degrade critical infrastructure before winter.
As both nations continue to exchange heavy fire, the reliance on long-range warfare appears set to define the next phase of the conflict following the recent Moscow drone attack. Vadym Skibitski emphasized that Ukrainian long-range strikes will persist, aiming to degrade Russian military networks and Wildberries logistics capabilities. Meanwhile, international observers will watch the impact on global supply chains, particularly as attacks on Black Sea ports and Russian retail infrastructure intensify without immediate prospects for a ceasefire.
— Sofia Alvarez, world desk, AXO News